When I returned to the capital, I was greeted by a vastly different atmosphere than when I left. If I had once been a joke, I was now an enigma—and, to many, a threat. As my carriage passed through the city gates, the nobles watched with curiosity. Some even bowed, which had never happened before.
Finnian greeted me at the palace with a warm, brotherly embrace, but his grip on my shoulder was slightly too strong. "My brother! Praise for your achievements in the North! Even our father is impressed."
"The success belongs to the people of the North, not me," I replied humbly, playing the role of the wise prince. "They just needed someone to listen."
Cassian made no attempt to hide his hostility. He blocked my path in the great hall, his voice veiled by a smile but full of anger. "So the Northern wizard has returned. Don't think that a little administrative success makes you fit to be king. The throne is won with blood and steel, not irrigation and treaties with savage tribes."
I stopped and stared at him calmly. "Whose blood, brother? The blood of your soldiers who died in vain on the western border? Or the blood of the people starving because of corrupt taxes?" My voice was not loud, but it was sharp as a razor.
Cassian approached, his face only inches from mine. "You will die for your insolence," he whispered bitterly.
"Many have tried," I replied with a thin smile. Then I walked away.
The next day, King Alistair summoned me to his private chambers. The room was dark, lit only by the fire and candles. The smell of herbal medicine grew stronger. The king looked thinner and more fragile, but his eyes were still sharp.
"Aurelian," he muttered, motioning for me to sit down. "Your report from the North is extraordinary. Even my cynical advisors are impressed. How did you do it?"
"Communication, Father. Many rulers see problems, but few see the people behind them. The mountain tribes attack not because they are savage, but because they are hungry and deprived. The nobles are not greedy because they are evil by nature; they are greedy because the system allows them to be. Fix the system, and the behavior will change.
The king nodded slowly. "Deep thoughts. Too deep, perhaps, for someone like you." He looked at me. "Who taught you all this? Gideon? Or... another teacher?"
This was a test. He was still suspicious. "Death is the best teacher, Father. As I lay dying after falling from my horse, I reflected on how meaningless my life was. I decided that if I lived, I would become meaningful. I read. I asked questions. I learned."
That answer seemed to satisfy him. He leaned back against the pillow. "The third test will begin next week. Diplomacy. A delegation from the Southern Empire will arrive. They are powerful, arrogant, and looking for weaknesses. Your task, the three of you, is to entertain them, negotiate the extension of the trade agreement, and show the greatness of Valeria. I will judge who is most capable of representing the kingdom."
The Southern Empire. They were an economic and military giant. The trade agreement with them was crucial. This was a high-level test.
"And whoever wins," the King continued, "will be crowned Crown Prince immediately afterward."
He said it flatly, but the weight hung heavy in the air. Everything depended on this.
I bowed. "I will do my best, Father."
"One more thing," he said as I was about to leave. "Your little network. The Purple web, is that what you call it?"
My blood ran cold, but my face remained neutral. "Father?"
"Don't worry. Every ambitious prince has eyes and ears. The important thing is how to use them. You use them to eradicate corruption and increase revenue. That... is acceptable. But remember, if that network is used against the throne, it will become a noose around your neck."
A clear warning. The king knew more than I had thought. I bowed even lower. "The network only serves the kingdom, Father. Just like me."
After the meeting, I gathered the remaining core of the Purple Net. Leo, who had become my most valuable spy in the palace, reported that there was strange activity: the King's secret guards had arrested several low-level informants in the city, but then released them.
Finnian had secretly met with the Southern ambassador, who had arrived early. Cassian had also moved his personal guard to barracks near the palace.
"Preparations for war," Kael muttered. "Cassian is preparing in case he loses."
"Or if he wins and wants to speed up the transition of power," I added. "We need strong allies for this diplomatic test."
But who? The nobles were divided. Finnian had a grip on the clever and cunning ones. Cassian was supported by the military faction. I had gained some new supporters among the merchants and low-ranking bureaucrats, but few among the high nobility.
Then I remembered Lady Seraphina, the duke's daughter whom I had met at Finnian's hunting party. Her father, Duke Ignatius, was one of the oldest and most respected nobles and was neutral in this rivalry. If I could get his support!
I sent Lady Seraphina a subtle invitation to visit the royal library, where I was studying a manuscript on the laws of the Southern Empire.
She arrived wearing a simple yet elegant dress and accompanied by a female servant. Her eyes immediately found me.
"Your Highness, I hear you are now an expert in trade agreements."
"Expert is not the right word, Miss. Just a diligent student. But I am facing a dilemma." I closed the book. "The Southern Empire is famous for its legal cunning. They insert hidden clauses that disadvantage their partners. I'm looking for examples in our history, but..."
"But the librarians aren't being cooperative," she finished my sentence with a smile. "Perhaps my father can help. He has archives of old agreements at his home."
That was his offer. I nodded. "I would be very grateful. In return, maybe I could tell you stories about the northern mountain tribes. They have beautiful legends about the constellations."
It's a simple exchange. Access to the archives for friendship. He agreed.
The visit to Duke Ignatius's house a few days later was a humble affair. The Duke himself was an old man with a white beard and sharp blue eyes. He looked at me closely.
"Prince Aurelian. The third son who suddenly became the talk of the town. What exactly are you looking for in my archives?"
"The truth, Your Highness. And perhaps, justice. The Southern Empire will oppress us if we are not prepared. I want to protect my father's kingdom."
"The kingdom?" he asked. "Or yourself?"
"Must they be different?" I replied. "If the kingdom prospers under a competent leader, isn't that best for everyone?"
The Duke laughed briefly. "A diplomatic answer. Very well. The archives are open to you. But there is one thing: my daughter, Seraphina, seems quite taken with you. She is rarely taken with anyone. Treat her well, or you will have me to deal with."
It was both a warning and a blessing. I bowed.
Over the next two days, I delved into the archives. I found what I was looking for: in a trade agreement from fifty years ago, there was a hidden clause that gave the Southern Empire the right to occupy the port of Valeria "in case of emergency," a clause that was vague and had never been enforced. Their delegation would surely try to revive it.
I also found something else: letters between Duke Ignatius and my father when they were young. They had been close friends before politics tore them apart. Perhaps that could be a way to build trust.
The night before the delegation's official arrival, Finnian held a small party at his house, only for select nobles. I was invited, perhaps to be sized up or humiliated. I came simply, accompanied only by Kael.
The party was elegant, full of laughter and music. Finnian moved around like the perfect host. Suddenly, he raised his hand.
"Friends! For entertainment, how about we hold an informal debate? The topic: what quality is most important for a king? Military courage, like my brother Cassian has? Administrative sharpness, like my brother Aurelian recently demonstrated? Or... diplomatic wisdom?"
It was a trap. He wanted to provoke Cassian and me into attacking each other in front of the audience.
Cassian, who was already drunk on wine, immediately snapped. "Courage is everything! A king must be feared by his enemies!"
"Feared by his enemies, or by his own people?" I interrupted gently. "A king who relies solely on fear will ultimately be betrayed by his own fear."
All eyes were on me. Finnian smiled. "Your opinion, Aurelian?"
I took my wine, walked to the center of the room. "A king," I said calmly, "is like a gardener. If he only cuts down the trees he doesn't like, the garden will be bare. If he only measures every leaf, the garden will die from lack of nutrients. And if he only stands on the sidelines and admires, the garden will be taken over by weeds. The most important quality is balance. And the ability to know when to cut, when to fertilize, and when to stand still."
A moment of silence. Then Lady Seraphina, standing beside her father, clapped softly. A few others followed suit. Cassian frowned, Finnian smiled thinly but his eyes were cold.
I had fallen into his trap, even earning a little admiration.